Tinubu urges lawmakers to speed up state police bill

President Bola Tinubu has asked the House of Representatives to start looking at a bill that would allow for state police. This shows the government's desire to change Nigeria's policing system.

The proposal was sent to the House in a letter on 15 June, addressed to Speaker Abbas Tajudeen. It aims to change the 1999 Constitution to create a legal foundation for state police services alongside the Nigeria Police Force.

The President wants lawmakers to give quick attention to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026. He described it as an important part of his administration’s plan to reform security in the country.

Mr Tinubu mentioned that the bill aims to create “a constitutional pathway for the establishment of State Police Services.” This is part of efforts to better handle Nigeria’s rising security problems.

He pointed out that the proposal builds on the important work already done by the House of Representatives on this matter. It also adds more protections to make sure a dual policing system works well.

“This bill builds on the significant work already done in this regard by the House of Representatives and incorporates additional safeguards to ensure that the creation of a dual policing structure to address our nation’s evolving national security challenges can be achieved quickly and effectively to the benefit of all Nigerians,” the President stated.

He described the proposed law as a key part of his administration’s strategy to boost national security. The President believes that lawmakers will give the bill quick attention.

“The proposed legislation is a critical component of our administration’s strategy to reorganise Nigeria’s security architecture to protect our citizens better, and I am confident that the House of Representatives will act quickly to consider and pass this bill,” he wrote.

If this amendment is passed, it would create a constitutional structure allowing both federal and state governments to run their own police services. This would end the long-standing system where only the federal government controls policing.

This new proposal is one of the strongest attempts supported by the executive to get constitutional approval for state police since Nigeria became a democracy in 1999.

Currently, the Nigeria Police Force, which the federal government controls, is the only body allowed to police the country. But rising insecurity in many parts of Nigeria has led to more calls for a decentralised police system.

Over the years, state governors, security experts, and advocates for constitutional reform have said that the centralised police system is overwhelmed. They argue it struggles to respond to terrorism, banditry, kidnappings, communal clashes, and other violent crimes.

The push for state police has gained strength as some states have set up their own regional security outfits. These include Amotekun in the South-west, Ebube Agu in parts of the South-east, and various community vigilante groups. These groups aim to support federal security agencies, even though they do not have official policing powers.

The House of Representatives has looked at several proposals for state police through its Constitution Review Committee before, but none have completed the amendment process.

For this proposal to become law, it needs the support of at least two-thirds of members from both chambers of the National Assembly. It must also be approved by at least 24 of the 36 state Houses of Assembly.